Convertible tricycle



Nov. 30, 1948. A. M. TETA v CONVERTJEBLE TRICYCLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 6, 1946 4 Ms 3; T N W Z V ma 1 A A. M. TETA CONVERTIBLE TRICYCLE Nov. 30, 1948.

Filed Dec. 6, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Anyrla M 7&2

// /S ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 30, 1948 "UNITED "STATES- PATENT *OFFICE; c a v 12,455,281" CONVERTIBLE TRICYCLE Angelo M. Tea, Manhasset, N. Y. Y Application December 6, 1946, Serial No. 714,446

. 1 Claim.

This invention relates to childrens tricycles and, more particularly, toconvertible'tricycles; Itspurpose is the provision of an improved construction of a childs tricycle to enable it to be readily changed over for'op'eration on either the usual paved roadway'or oniceand snow. I 7

Convertible tricyclesas heretofore constructed have been generally unsatisfactory for one reason or: another. For example-theuse of pivoteclskid members which could-be swung into position to raise the wheels from the roadwayis 'unsatisfactory on account of the poor sliding qualities of the skid members because of their contactwith the road surface at a single point only.' Such a device would be difficult to use onany but a smooth fiat surface, like the frozen surface 'of a pond.

One of the objects of the present invention is tovprovide a convertible childstricyc'le that does not require a smoothsurface for its operation, but which will operate successfully on "icy or snowy surfaces which may be comparatively rough, the tricycle therefore being-capable of successful use on the ordinary ice covered roadway or sidewalk or on crusted snow.

Another object of theinvention is to provide a construction of childs convertible tricycle which can be easily changed over child itself can make the change.

The invention will be understood from a consideration of the accompanying drawings which indicate, by way of example, one embodiment of the invention. In these drawings:

Fig.1 .is-a plan view. ofcthe' tricycle arranged for operation on icy or snowy :surfaces;

Fig. 2 is a view of the tricycle in side elevation; Fig. 3 is a cross section'taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

view of a rear wheel unit; I

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view of the front'axle construction and is takenOrilineE-S of Fig.2;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view showing a detail of the front wheel illustrated in Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on line 1--7 of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a partial sectional view similar to Fig. 5 showing the hub of a rubber tired front wheel.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, the improved tricycle of the invention comprises a frame indicated generally by reference numeral I, having a steering head 2 and a rearwardly extending weight supporting portion 3 on which a saddle 4 is mounted by means of a bracket 5 which is adjustable supported on the rear frame mem- Fig. 4 is a so-called perspective or projectional so that the usual manner.

ber.3. Head 2 carries the usual steering fork which supports at its lower end the driving and steering wheel of the tricycle, and at its upperend the handle bars 1.

The tricycle is provided with interchangeable front wheels,- that is a. toothed all metal front wheel 8 for operation on ice and snow covered surfaces, and 'a wheel indicated generally by numeral 9 and'shown in Fig. 8 for use on ordinary roadways not-covered with ice or snow. This wheel 9.is preferably provided Withrthfi usual rubber tire-(not shown). 1

The toothed metal Wheel 8ucomprises a hub l (Fig-)., sheetv metal spokes l land an annular tire member l2 which may be attached to the spokes by rivets I3 and which is provided with serrations orteeth l4 throughout its periphery. Preferably alternate teeth M are offset in opposite directions as shown in detail in Fig. '7 in order to provide better gripping .of the slippery road surfacef'by cutting into and chipping away'itsx ice or snow coating. Thewheel is preferably provided with a mud guard which is supported on the-fork member 6 in the In orderto interchange the two wheels, 8 and 9, the constructionshown in detailin Figs. 5 and 6 may be used. Hub H] ofthe ice wheel 8 is provided with a" centralbore through which a supporting and driving shaft or axle "5 passes with a sliding fit. Shaft 16 also receives on its outer end portion'sthe inner races ll of a pair of 'ball bearings, the outer races lflof which are fixed to the lower ends of the respective arms of fork 6.

' Shaft l6 also makes a sliding fit with the bores of inner races I! so that the'shaft can be removed both from the ball bearings and from hub l0 when itis desired to change over the tricycle for operation on an ordinary roadway.

Shaft 16 is provided" with a pedalcrank l9 which isfixed to the shaft at one end, and at its opposite end it has a secondpedal crank 20 which may be removed from the end of the shaft by taking out the holding screw 2|. The driving connection with wheel hub I0 is made by a removable screw or bolt 22 passing through the central portion of the hub I0 and shaft I6. Pedals 23 are mounted on the ends of cranks I9 and 20.

Wheel 9 for operation on ordinary roadways is provided with a hub Illa which has a central bore of the same diameter as the hub l0, and is provided with apertured flanges 24 for the usual steel spokes 25 which are secured at their outer ends to the usual rim (not shown) for a pneumatic or other rubber tire.

The tricycle is also provided with interchangeable rear running gear structures, one a sled structure indicated generally by reference numeral 26, and the other a Wheeled running gear indicated generally by numeral 21. In order to removably attach either of these running gear structures to the tricycle, the rearfrarne portion 3 has two-.d iverging legs 28 at theslhwer ends of which is secured an attachment member 29 in the form of a horizontal cross-bar. Cross-bar.

29 is provided at its center with a dowel pin 30" and two holes for receiving bolts or camscnewsrht.

Sled structure 26 comprises two sled runners 32 'having their forward ends curved upwardly as shown at 33 and riveted orr othenyvise sg qulfedr to upper side members 34 which extend in parallel relation to and vertically spaced fromrun ners 32, and have downwardly curved rear porti'ons 355i theelowenuends ofiiwhich, ara fixedi ad;- jacentlthe. rear ends. ofothe runners; 'llheheighi; of -the members .3! .alro rertheirum'iersisi approxa imately equal to the radiusniatheruhber tired wheelaofcthe-awheeledi runningxgearlz'l'. ithe-two runnersfifiare tied together by twopanallelcnossbersflflrandl 38 .shown'mnrepamticularly: in Elgs. 3&andll" respectivelyr Cnoss, member 31: is. lo;- cated'appnoznmately' at; the center between: the

front and-reactor; theavsledstructune. 26 .and :its'

opnositerends. are.apreierablystlmnedrdowrrwandly to form vertical legs 39 beimeen...the; IUHIIEZZSL1332' an'dethe upper: sixle; members 34;; Angle braces 40 may be: placed between the: legsv 3.9 andcross member torstifiem theistrilctnreh Similarly the:

front cross Bil-Ian outer: end portions" benhdownwardltzato:xtorm-rvertical legs-- 41*- This cross memher may allsozhesprovided.withpadsfl upomtwlficln rider rest; hia-ieet, whziie,

coasting. a a

cross member33:;imarrangedtwfitubeneath cross-han- -28 withtdmwel -pim' 3.0; aperztune atethe center-vofrl-crossrmem fir 3:15am which: pointthe threaded: apertures provided cross; member 31 will be brought into registrywithlther capv ;screws; 35!! which may ghez inserted: .thealeirr -to secure. thersldd: structure :to the tricycle-h V-It deied-mu d to site 1 13 5 QIQ F KQ ems rai ed-m vem n wit r fine-GH .e s iha 29;; the:,caD?$F Kfl L t m%36 l -these on amed up t ght @Itd'flQlWflt-Pfi l Em u fi td qss ri ns bl e We screws 3!. Axle 43 is secured to cross-bar 29 of the tricycle frame in the same way as described in connection with the sled structure 26, except that the cap screws are screwed home in order to hold axle 43 immovably to cross-bar 29.

It will be understood that when coasting with the sled running gear 26 on the tricycle, the child may stop his forward movement by pressing backwardly on the pedals 23, or by placing his feet on the roadisurjace itsuch :brakingeftect' can be producedthatway.

By means of the present invention there has been provided a convertible tricycle of such simie-, construction that the child user of the tricycle can remove the sled running gear 26 and substitute the wheeled running gear 21 at will, it necessary to remove the two cap screws 31' from the cross member 3'! or the axle 43, whichever is on the tricycle, and then apply the other running gear structure and insert the wo: ren s l qmnlete th .canve a p the: rear ,end or the'tricycle arrd the, front. end: is, enr rt d'i st ea r mn r b rem i th -MW r ws and 1. a ah 6@.: -and-- ubs itutes t e o e rom w ea an h me placing thei partaj stgnentioned.

W l tll nw mlientha be n d s ribedi sanestiq a ie e-smb d e te it mam-he ueda rtqe t a qhenae imar e -mad a hecm tt et flae e a rangemen o th ve i sna ts ihm -d r b ne r ath spi ited t nwenran 9r e ce d-ic scop as s .fiq t in th eefi dee e a m lclain a i e a av tible t icy e aema s r a ew ha st rab e d n whe l a t front, and a horizontal cross-bar extending from,

d R sid 0 aidr mme t e ra h ele enam gea st eam a i a s ed r s il s.- We h l e use i terch n ab witham hic e n m e qhzsa d t la t r -ha nse-q qe onrwhichi said cross bar is. adapted to rest eraeed s fin ed l ise se u e a d weer e to- Qn 1 ri an m r S t eter ng devices being adapted tonproduee .eithenval firm ement b ween {said Pa ;Q a m te pivotal. movement. therebetween to enable said fasteners to. be adi usitedto allow a. limited pivotal movement of the sled; runner structuretostake ace A GE M'- 11am REEEBENCES' fihe: following. reterencesare of record in.-,tlie

file of thisspatent;

' I UNITED STATESPATENTS Number Name Date 249,122 Uster; Nov. 1, 1,881 369,224 Batchelder -Aue. 30;; 183W 1309;398 Eonverse .:Dec.. 19; 19116 Woginrich Dec-n 74s,. i945, 

